Driving mechanism



DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Feb 25, 1933 IN VEN TOR.

a be desired, andit is an object of the present in- Patented Jan. 15, 1935 IPA- E DRIVING MECHANISM Albert S. Walton,"East Orange, N. J., assignorIby mesne' assignments, to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange, N. Jersey r 7 Application February 25,

J a corporation of New 1933, Serial No. 558,604"

16 C1aims. (o1. 74- -2130) This invention relates to driving mechanism, and particularly to driving mechanismin which a certainamount of relative rotation is possible, as between the driving and ,driven elements.

I An object, of the invention. is to provide a system of the foregoing character in which connection between the driving and driven elements is effected by means of aplurality of constantly meshed gears which, although subject to relative rotation under certain conditions, are also capable of becoming locked to establish a direct one-to-one drive. a y I In the accompanying drawing the invention is shown; applied to a cycloidal, gear train of the character disclosed in PatentNo. 1,949,203 of Clinton H. Havill, granted Feb. 27, 1934, and in- ..cluding a plurality-of driving wheels or gears dynamically unbalanced with respect to their individual axes of rotation, and adapted, to rotate within a common driven wheel constituting a circular track therefor under certain conditions,

but locked thereto for rotation as an integral unit therewith under certain other conditions.

H ,Such .a dynamicallyv unbalanced gear train functions properly as a resilient coupling so long as the driving and driven shafts run at the same average speed. .Iffthis condition is departed from, however, to any extent, it becomes diflicult to bring theidevice back to the one-to-one drive relationship,. because of the tendency to prolonged precession (that is, rotation about their individual axes) on the part of the unbalanced elements of the coupling. It'foll'ows that additional meansfordampening such precession is to vention to accomplish this result by providing a frictionffactor which, by reason of its response to, centrifugalforce, affords the proper degree of oppositionto the tendency .to prolonged precession, and thus facilitates a prompt return to the one-to-one drive relationship, following absorption. of any shock sufiicient'to cause a temporary departure therefrom; I r r In the preferred embodiment of the invention as herein illustratedvthis friction factor responds to centrifugal force in such a manner that its effectivene'ss'is directlyproportional to the degree of relativerotation or; precession.

Anotherv object is to provide a drivingmechanism of novel construction, in which the component parts are compactly and symmetrically v prime mover, such as an engine, with an electric generator or otherfmemberto be driven. Other objects and advantages to be derived from the use of the invention hereindisclosed reside in the inter-relationandmethod of operation of the parts and will become apparent upon inspection of the. following specification when read with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein the preferredembodiment of; the invention is illustrated. ,It;,istobeexpressly 10 understood, however, that the drawing; is forgthe purpose of illustration: only, 1 andgis, not" 0, be construed as a definitionof the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appendedclaims. I I, In the drawing, 1 Fig. 1 is a central long 'tudinal section. through a device embodyingthe invention as it :appears when applied as a drive for a generator;: and;

.Fig. 2. is a transverse sectional viewtQKGIlg along the line 2-2 of Fig- 1. H v

, Referring to the;drawin ,ma d; particularly to Fig.1, the invention is illustrated asembodied in a driving mechanism comprising ,a driving member 1, a driven shafta, and aplurality .of

intermediate members, of novelqconstruction drivably connecting the members l and 2 and enclosed within acasing 3 havingga flange 4 provided with openings throughwhichsuitable fas-' tening means 5 may be inserted for attachment 30 to an end plate 10 of the housing .11 of'the generator or other devicegto be driven. r

As above suggested, the novel means for coupling shafts 1 and 2,preferably includesa pm.-

I rality of hollowdrivi-ng pins 14 projecting radial- 1y from a discv l6w-towhich they are rigidly secured as by'upsettingtheends 1'7 thereof inthe counterbored portions 18 of said disc. Thesepins 14 are preferably provided at points equally spaced from the center of rotation-of-the disc 40 and at equal angular intervals; *as indicated in Fig. 2. A similar disc 21, having a hub z2asplined tothe driven shaft 2, is'adjustably held (in place thereon by a nut 23 engaging the, threaded porthrough which the above described mounting pins not only about their own axes, but also about the 14 extend, the sleeves 36 being fixed axially beaxis of the drive shaft, to become sufliciently tween flanges 35 and 39 on pins 14. It will be effective in assisting the unbalanced elements 38 noted that certain of these pinions 34 have latin locking the pinions to the annular gear 32 for eral extensions 37 integral therewith, said exten- I establishment of a one-to-one driving ratio. 5

sions being eccentrically formed with respect to During each subsequent period of temporary'overthe axis of thewssociated pin 71* sovas -tor-render load-,:the.nec%sary.flexibilityrisiobtaimdby reason the nliiions 1 34idynnmically unbalancedfduring of the temporary ,yieldingfiof .the; pinions to the operation, and thus create a tendency for the urge to rotate about their individual axes. -Howpinions to become locked to the annular gGaK: 3 l-,;YJGYEP; as the two shafts depart from the samev 10 rather than continue in free planetary move speed ratio (so that the pinions tend to precess, ment about said annular gear as an orbitaltrack," thatisrrotate very rapidly about their own axes) 1 such locking tendency beingidue ofnconrse, to theu theredegautonaatically set up a large restoring action of centrifugal foiice ten'ding to: hold'; .the forceidn tto-thewcombined action of the friction is pinion in such positionsrangularlyms tagmainev: elementsx-Aa andatthe unbalanced parts 38; and tain the center of mass oftheir eccentric portions immediately upon-"tcessation of the temporary 38 at the greatest distance from the axis ofrota- ,..overload this restoring forcenullifles the precesstion of the driving disc 16.""Ihl.iS' 'there is main ing tendency an'd'restores the'substantially locked tained a one-to-one drive betweeni-thedisciilG condition; This substantially locked condition,

and the driven shaft 2 except for occasional detherefore, continues indefinitely, except for the 20 f artu'ren fitherefre'rriaby reason of suddenly applied slightinstantaneous'relativerotationof drivef and yields somewhat,- thus=- providing' the desired -tions-the restraining friction '-is-duealnrost*enflexibility. Y i ti'rely tothe-rotation aboutth axis of th e driven ns=abeve=explained}however; thereis a-=-t'endshafty'and' occursonly on those shoes- 11idiluent-25 encifiori tlae pdrt bi' the piniizvns 84 to precess to are-'on the' outside. Since this"*friction "areak is anvexees'sive extentg particular-1y during-the-perelatively small; -only- *relati'vely little-friction prod rice therequiredcentrifugal force'-necessary "lifeisassured. v v a V n breathe-locking action. To-combat this tendency; "I'here-isthus provided a noveldrivingmecha- 030 "l lieve prdvided means'dnterposecr betweenmer --nism which; in the-disclosed-embodiment,fis tan ot'the-{pii'ilonsand thecorresponding-driving efiective to achieve the, objects above enun'rjerated, pins ll af/(1aptecl te eiieroise at frictionalrestraint and is i relatively inexpensive- -'-to"rnarihffature,

" op'er'ia'ting toresistrotation bf thepinions about readily assembledordisasseinbledfandfiaossesses their individual axes, the=- degrce--ofsuch rethe-"further-desirable quality' z'that viti!anf be r85 straint being directlyproportional=-td thespeed 'adapted to af-variety'bfuses"fand"*al 1i0utions. V urrenders thepi-nions abouttheir o'wm axes, Thus;forfexamplefialthough especially a-pms' ithe rotation-about theeaxis ot the"orbit "driving "a "generator or fother dynamof'electric gear 323' I fii niachine crfaccessory ofthe'automotivevehicle; it 40 I-n tl'ie preferred embodiment' as shown, such 'mayfalso'beappliedVto"'riiihirniztotsionalfiibra- H40 frictional restraint i'sprodu'ced by providing 'a tiorrinany machinery-wherethe primeQrnov-erfis pluralityofifrietion slzoes4:8-associatedwithone subject to'rapidlypiilsatin'g va'riationsin'speeid. -017- more cr me-1111110113 34;- the pinions so equipped While the embodimentpf the inventiori herein 'eb'eing providedwitlrlongitudinal-grooves49 in the disclosedaandillustrated-possessesa1 highfdegree s 'late'rally extending hubs m thereof, which hubs of merit-in the'respects above'enumeratedfiit is -45 -difier from the exterisions 'ii 'T bf-the-bthet pinions l 'neverthelesscontemplated1%hat*changes in"'con- "34 irr that they--laizlr the eecentric' -formation instruction and arrangem'ent of parts"will:sugg'est dicated on thlatter at 38. Projectinginto 'longithemslelvestmpersons'skilled "in' ithe a'rt in'f"'the -tddi'nitl groov es 49*are-tpngues '52- on-the inner light bftheforegoing disciosureyandgaccordifigly 0 -cur-face-'o1' the f riction shoes m, the shoes48-and latitude forsu'ch changes isprovidedflorg infthe 50 "the pinion 34being tliusheld*irr-lockedrelation *broade'stofthe'appendedclairns. i v f to each other.* *surrounding*the frictiomshoes48 ""Whatiscl'aimedds': -an'd'idapted -to-be frictionallyengaged"thereby 1: In*a device ofithe cla witnava'riable deg ree'of pres'sure depending-upon memberyadriverr member-j'a geaiitraininterposed {.55 variations in the centrifugal'--force}' is an -outer "'between'said'memb'ers;' said gear, trainjcomprising s;

, sleelveaor drum -5 6, whichf as showny is in the "plurality iofdriving 'gears: 'andfiaf driven? car nature'pf-a cup-shaped element "integral-with the constantly meshedtherewithbutirotatablerelaass'o'eiated pin-=14, I "tiv'ely thereto means"includinga segmental'frici-i rom the foregoingit is apparentfithatwhen "tion devicefsurrouriding:icertain'goffisajidfdriving 1360 the driving disc 16 is started i the friction shoes= 48 gears andactingtdrestrain relative rotation lie-" will -have 1 little effe'ct onj theppinions "thus 'tweensaid-gearsiandadditiona1 means acting on equippedg as thereisno accumulation of cen- "'anotherbfsaiddrivingtrgearstwsupjflemehtfthe e flfngal:forcett hold them-firnflyirr engagement restraining action of sad'frictionheyice, -witlr -the=innen-surface of the-associated drum'-56. 2JIn a"device'-of' th class described, adriving n 5 Fortheasame -reason 'the -eccentric= portion 38 of "membena'driverrmenrber; a'gear train interposed the- -other pinions-will alsoberelativelyineffective, bet'ween saidfinembersy-said geartr'ain comprising and -a'll :pinions will ibe 1;:ompariaitively free to a" plurality *of' drivin g gears an a""driven'gear rotate about theirdndiyidual axes as'well-as about constantly meshed therewith' but rotatable rela- --th'eiaxis:of the driven shaft Z. Ifi follows that "tiv'ely 'theretoy centrifugally responsive-n'ieans during the period of relatively intense starting "acting on c'ertain of said driving gearswwekail -impulsei-ion ithezparttsof the? driving telement' only of-'s"a-id"driving gears against --rotation* re1a;tively -a:-minompartipfa:the aeceleratiorrzwill-vbe"trans- :toisald driven*gearp'and friction means in'cluding muttedstottherdriwen apmara-tusx -After acertain a cup-shaped element rotatably supporting anrmd-rhashbeenereaclmdfrhoweyer;iithei :fri'ction other: of said driving gears and --eontaining a lziflhoeseflz acquirersumcient centrifugaluimpetus epluralityiof irritation shoeswngageable with the '4 inner cylindrical surface=of 'saidcup 'shaped elementror supplementingthelocking action of said centrlfug'ally-responsive means;

3.--'Iii a 'd'evice of the class'describ'ed, a driving membe'rfa driven .memb'er, a gear train interposed between said-members,- said gear train com-' prising a pluranty of driving gearsand a driven g'ear conls'tantly meshed therewith butrotatable relatively thereto, certain of saiddriving gears beingweight'ed asymmetrically to createa tend-'- ency -opposi'ng relative rotation between said driving gears and driven gear, and means including a cup-shaped element rotatably supporting certain of said driving gears and containing a plurality of friction shoes engageable with the inner cylindrical surface thereof to supplement opposing action of said asymmetrically weighted means.

4. In a driving mechanism, a rotatable driving cage, a driven shaft, a plurality of driving wheels mounted on said cage, a driven wheel constantly engaged by each of said driving wheels and rotatable therewith, and means including a cup shaped element rotatably supporting one of said driving wheels and containing a plurality of friction shoes engageable with the inner cylindrical surface thereof to oppose rotation ofall of said driving wheels relatively to said driven wheel.

5. In a driving mechanism, a rotatable driving cage, a driven shaft, a plurality'of driving wheels mounted on said cage, a driven wheel constantly engaged by each of said driving wheels and rotatable therewith, and means including a cupshaped element rotatably supporting one of said.

driving wheels and containing a plurality of friction shoes engageable with the inner cylindrical surface thereof to oppose rotation of any of said driving wheels about their individual axes.

6. In a driving mechanism, a rotatable driving cage, a driven shaft, a plurality of driving wheels mounted on said cage, a driven wheel constantly engaged by each of said driving wheels and rotatable therewith, and means including a cupshaped element rotatably supporting one of said driving wheels and containing a plurality of friction shoes engageable with the inner cylindrical surface thereof constantly tending to lock said driving wheels to said driven wheel to establish a one-to-one speed ratio therebetween.

7. In a driving mechanism, a rotatable driving cage, a driven shaft, a plurality of driving wheels mounted on said cage, a driven wheel constantly engaged by each of said driving wheels and rotatable therewith, means including a cup shaped element rotatably supporting one of said driving wheels and containing a plurality of friction shoes engageable with the inner cylindrical surface thereof to oppose rotation of all of said driving wheels relatively to said driven wheel, and means responsive to the speed of said driving cage for supplementing the action of said friction device.

8. In a driving mechanism, a rotatable driving cage, a driven shaft, a plurality ofdriving wheels mounted on said cage, a driven wheel constantly engaged by each of said driving wheels and rotatable therewith, means including a cup-shaped element rotatably supporting one of said driv-- ing wheels and containing a plurality of friction shoes engageable with the inner cylindrical surface thereof to oppose rotation of any of said driving wheels about their individual axes, and means responsive to the speed of said driving cage for supplementing the action of said friction device.

9. In a driving mechanism,'a rotatable driving cage, a driven shaft, a plurality of driving wheels mounted on said cage, a driven wheel constantly engaged by' each of said driving'wheels and rotatabletherewith, means including a cup-shaped element "rotatably supporting said driving wheels and containing a plurality'offriction shoes engageable'with the inner cylindrical surface thereofconstantly tending to lock said driving wheels to said driven wheel to'establish'a one-to-one speed ratio therebetween, and means responsive to the speed of said driving cage for supplement ing-the action of said friction device. I?

10. In a driving mechanism,a*rotatable driving cage, a driven shaft, a plurality of driving wheelsmounted on said cage, a driven wheel constantly engaged by each of said driving wheels and'rotatable therewith,-means including a'plurality of friction shoes each of which is movable on a true radial line from.the axis of one of said driving wheels to oppose rotation of all' of said driving wheels relatively to said driven wheel, and means responsive to the speed of said driving cage for supplementing the action of said friction device, said last named means being integral with another of said driving wheels.

11. In a driving mechanism, a rotatable driving cage, a driven shaft, a plurality of driving wheels mounted on said cage, a driven wheel constantly engaged by each of said driving wheels and rotatable therewith, means including a plurality of friction shoes each of which is movable on a true radial line from the axis of one of said driving wheels to oppose rotation of any of said 7 driving wheels about their individual axes, and

means responsive to the speed of said driving cage for supplementing the action of said friction device, said last named means being integral with another of said driving wheels. i I I 12. In a driving mechanism, a rotatable driving cage, a driven shaft, a plurality of driving wheels mounted on said cage, a driven wheel-constantly engaged by each of said driving wheels and r0- tatable therewith, means including a plurality of friction shoes each of which is movable on a true radial line from the axis of said driving wheels to lock said driving wheels to said driven wheel to establish a one-to-one speed ratio therebe-' tween, and means responsive to the speed of said driving cage for supplementing the action of said friction device, said last named means being in-- tegral with another of said driving wheels.

13. In a driving mechanism, a rotatable driving cage, a driven shaft, aplurality of driving wheels mounted on said cage, a. driven wheel constantly engaged by each of said driving wheels and rotatable therewith, means including a friction shoe which is movable on a true radial line and in a direction away from the axis of one of said driving wheels to oppose rotation of all of said driving wheels relatively to said driven wheel,

and means responsive to the speed of said driving cage for supplementing the action of said friction shoe.

, 14.In a driving mechanism, a rotatable driving cage, a driven shaft, a' plurality of driving wheels mounted on said cage, a driven wheel constantly engaged by each of said driving wheels and rotatable therewith, means including a friction shoe which is movable on a true radial line and in a direction away from the axis of one of said driving wheels to oppose rotation of any of said driving wheels about their individual axes,

and means responsive to the speed of said driving 

